Pakistan: Earthquake OCHA situation report No. 4

- The Earthquake in Balochistan province
has left 166 deaths and 370 injured so far (government confirmed figure).
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports that 35,600 individuals
(4,610 families) have been affected whereas the figures on displacement
have increased to 7,000 individuals.

1. An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 has
hit Balochistan province in south-western Pakistan on 29 October. According
to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was in Chiltan
mountains, 80 kilometers northwest of Quetta. The first tremor struck at
4:09 am local time (23:09 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometer while the second
one came at 5:15 am. The affected region is the mountainous area extending
from Ziarat, about 110 KMs northeast of Quetta to Pishin, Qilla Abdullah
to Chaman (border town along Afghan border). Provincial Disaster Management
Authority (PDMA) reports that the worst hit area falls within villages
Khanozai and Topa Achakzai in eastern Pishin district and Wachun Kawas
village in Ziarat district and possibly Harnai district (east of Ziarat).

2. According to the assessment from the
Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, access is difficult but remains possible even
in the most affected Union Councils, Kawas and Kutch on Ziarat district,
and Khanozai on Pishin district. Communities have not yet started clearing
the wreckage of their houses and people are sleeping outside their damaged
houses due to continuous aftershocks. So far, only limited assistance has
reached the affected population.

4. An operational center has been established
in Wam to ensure an effective coordination in Ziarat district. Four camps
have been established in Wam (2 camps), Kawas and Orchun. Additional four
camps are being established in Ahmadon, Gogai, Kawas, Tangain. The two
camps in Wam are designed to accommodate 2,000 individuals whereas each
of the remaining camps can accommodate 3,000 individuals.

5. In the affected districts, medical
teams from the Department of Health, People' s Primary Health Care Initiative
(PPHI) and Pakistan Army Medical Corps are providing health services. The
Balochistan Provincial Government has deployed 19 medical teams with ambulances
and medicines in the affected districts. According to the Provincial Health
Department, there are enough medicines and medical staff to cope with the
current situation. The health department has sent 10 vaccination teams
to the affected districts to vaccinate children and women against measles
and tetanus and to administer Vitamin A to children. UNICEF and WHO are
providing logistics support for the vaccination activities.

6. The Provincial Government has requested
logistic support and storage facility from the United Nations. This includes
three storage facilities (two in Ziarat and one in Pishin with storage
capacity of 10,000 MT each) and transportation of relief items to the affected
areas. WFP is currently reviewing this request.

7. Three assessment teams from the Pakistan
Red Crescent Society have identified 1,480 most vulnerable families in
different villages of Ziarat and Pishin for the distribution of NFIs. The
PRCS Provincial Branch in Quetta has dispatched 50 trucks of emergency
NFIs for distribution to 2,000 families in Ziarat, using half of the initial
NFI stock. The stocks include 2,000 tents, 14,000 blankets, 2,000 plastic
sheets, 2,000 coal stoves, 2,000 kitchen sets, 4,000 jerry cans and 2,000
hygiene kits. 200 tents have been distributed in the village Wam, in Ziarat
district. 500 tents have been distributed in the village Khanozai, in Pishin
district. Two medical teams operating at Rural Health Centre (RHC) in Kawas
(Ziarat district) have treated 270 patients.

8. As of 1 November, Balochistan Rural
support (BRSP) has assisted 6,553 affected individuals. This includes provision
of 59 pots (each pot contains 40 kg) of cooked food to 4,110 displaced
people, first aid treatment to 493 injured people and assistance for the
funeral 200 people killed in the earthquake. 250 food packages were provided
to 1,750 individuals in the affected villages of Waam, Vurchan and Kawas;
similarly 100 food packages were provided in Khanozai and Khushab in Pishin
distrct. In Kawas and Kach, 183 sites were identified for the construction
of pit latrines.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

SHELTER AND NFIs

9. UNHABITAT has concluded an assessment
of the affected areas and report will be shared with the government and
the humanitarian community in coming days.

11. The Turkish Red Crescent is planning
to establish 10 long lasting winterised steel shelter units. Each unit
is designed to accommodate 12 families and consists of living areas, 2
bathrooms, 2 kitchens and 2 food stores. These units will be transported
from Turkey by road.

13. PHF Joint Rapid Assessment reports
that in addition to the winterised tents and blankets, basic tools (such
as shovel, pick axe, spade, rubber bucket and ropes...) are needed for the
affected families to remove the rubbles from their properties and recover
part of their belongings. These tools will later be used for reconstruction
of the houses. The PHF Joint Rapid Assessment was conducted in three Union
councils: Kawas and Kutch councils in Ziarat district and Khanozai council
in Pishin district.